Namibia's railway operator, TransNamib is looking to the revival of trade at Oshikango on the Namibia–Angola border to support the resumption of railway services between Ondangwa and Oshikango in the north of the country.
Train services on the route were suspended in July 2024 following a decline in trading activity in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state-owned railway operator said it is also looking to plans by Namibia and Angola to establish a dry port at Oshikango as a potential catalyst for increased freight volumes and the revival of rail services.
TransNamib said it is engaging with stakeholders to secure import and export cargo, with intermodal and railway services expected to form a key part of the logistics solution for Oshikango.
The company said its broader objective is to increase freight volumes and contribute to an integrated logistics system.
June trade statistics released by the Namibia Statistics Agency showed that Oshikango facilitated exports from Namibia worth N$86 million into Angola during the month, which is relatively low compared to other land borders: Katima Mulilo with Zambia (N$1.4 billion), Ngoma with Botswana (N$164 million), Trans Kalahari with Botswana (N$623 million), Ariamsvlei with South Africa (N$348 million) and Noordoewer with South Africa (N$373 million).
The developments come as Angola advances the public tender for the concession of the Namibe Corridor railway. The tender was launched by Angola's Ministry of Transport on 5 December 2025 and has entered the evaluation phase.
Three firms, Africa Finance Corporation, Transcune and Copia Group of Companies, have expressed interest in the concession, which is structured for an initial 30-year period, with a legal provision for an extension of up to 50 years.
The concession will cover the operation of the Moçâmedes Railway, which forms part of the Namibe Corridor connecting Angola's interior to the Port of Namibe.
Angola has indicated that a future railway connection to Oshikango remains feasible, particularly following the public opening and verification of bids submitted for the concession to operate, manage and maintain the Namibe Corridor.
The potential connection would strengthen rail and trade links between Namibia and Angola and could support greater movement of cargo along the two countries' shared transport corridor.
The Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), which promotes the use of Namibian ports by neighbouring countries has stated that the Trans-Cunene Corridor, which links the Port of Walvis Bay with Lubango in Angola through Tsumeb, Ondangwa, Oshikango and the Santa Clara border post, facilitates the movement of a wide range of commodities between Namibia and Angola.
These include petroleum and fuel products, vehicles, mining-related cargo, construction materials, consumer goods, food products and general retail consumables.
The corridor has strategic importance for supplying Southern Angola because of its shorter transit distance from the Port of Walvis Bay compared with alternative Angolan ports such as Luanda, Lobito and Namibe.
Another development supporting cross-border trade was the introduction of 24-hour operations at the Oshikango/Santa Clara Border Post in June 2024 by the governments of Namibia and Angola.
